Over 200 years ago,
on the ancient Isle of Skye and in the Scottish Highlands, the ancestors
of today's Cairn Terrier earned their keep routing vermin from the rock
piles (called cairns) commonly found on Scottish farmland.
These early terriers were highly prized and bred for their working ability,
not appearance.
Such characteristics as courage, tenacity and intelligence, housed in a sturdy body clad in a weatherproof coat, armed with big teeth in strong jaws, were sought generation after generation.
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Gradually the breeds known as the Scottish Terrier and the West Highland White evolved and were named. The Cairn
(the last to be formally named) remained the closest to the original
small working terrier, bolting the fox, otter and weasel, sharing
the meager fare of the crofter's household. |
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| Ch. Splinters of Twobees (1938) was a foundation sire for many of our modern day's most-prized Cairns. |
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F. C. Crawford with his Cairn "Dowie" in 1904, eight years before the Cairn won recognition as a separate breed, in 1912. |
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Today the Cairn Terrier in America is a sensible, confident little dog, independent but friendly with everyone he meets. He may be found in an apartment, suburban home, or on a farm. Alert, intelligent and long-lived, the Cairn tends to remain active and playful well into his teen year, endearing him to children. True to his heritage, the breed still has very large teeth, large feet with thick pads and strong nails (the better to dig with!), strong, muscular shoulders and rears, and a fearless tenacity that will lead him into trouble if his owners are irresponsible. |
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Miss
King with the Hon. Mary Hawkes' Lockyers Shadow and Lockyers' Sunshine, 1938. |
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| The Cairn Terrier Club of America is dedicated to promoting the welfare of the Cairn Terrier and wants to help you decide if a Cairn Terrier is the right dog to share your life. | |